Tuesday
22nd Aug 2017
EU leaders were vocal in their criticism of the anti-gay campaign that took place in the Russian republic of Chechnya earlier this year. But only a few countries are willing to offer a refuge to the victims.
Once regarded as conservative, the catholic island of 440,000 becomes the latest EU country to allow same sex couples to marry.
Polish society is becoming more gay-friendly, but anti-gay activists are becoming more radical and the government is doing little to stop it, says gay right activist Agata Chaber.
Gay marriage was adopted in a snap vote at the German parliament on Friday. But lesbians and gays acquired this right after German chancellor Angela Merkel tried to sabotage the electoral campaigns of her opponents.
The nomination of Brnabic as Serbia's first gay prime minister is linked to party politics and pinkwashing rather than civil rights.
Anti-gay statements are part of an anti-EU narrative propagated by Poland's ruling Law and Justice party. But only a few politicians from the opposition are willing to challenge the image of Poland as a homophobic country.
Multinational corporations can play an important role in creating a more inclusive society, through the workplace.
Leo Varadkar said his election as leader of the ruling part was an "unlikely story". He assured he would stick to the EU position in the upcoming Brexit negotiations.
Linas Linkevicius, foreign minister of Lithuania, said his country issued visas to two persecuted Chechens and that an international effort was underway to protect others.
Liberal MEPs say a parliamentary position on protecting children from immoral content on the Internet could be used to discriminate against gay people.
Intersex rights are the new boundary for toleration of sexual minorities in Europe, as EU institutions urged to show more "political courage" to stop hate.
German leader urged Putin to protect gay men in Chechnya, he said his police were better-behaved than some in Europe.
Tajani was due to open a "summit" with anti-gay extremists in the EU parliament. He cancelled, but questions remain on why the event went ahead.
Activists hope the EU presidency of Malta, a recent LGBTIQ champion, will help to put their rights higher on the EU agenda.
MEPs express outrage after the EU Commission takes no action against Lithuania over an anti-propaganda law that discriminates against gay people.
The Georgian Dream party says it is pro-EU, but its demonisation of LGBT people for the sake of a few votes is a retrograde move on Georgia's European path.
"Personal activism" is worth more than politicians' talk, but a “meek” EU will never win public support, an Irish gay rights campaigner tells EUobserver.
Hate speech, whether homophobic or islamophobic, can prompt violent crime, justice commissioner Vera Jourova has warned in the wake of the Orlando and Jo Cox killings.
EU politicians should attend gay Pride marches to stop illiberal forces in the EU from turning back the clock on basic civil liberties, such as the freedom to assembly.
Governments must be willing to hear critical voices; otherwise their desire to have an NGO sector is only lip service.
Decision to allow same-sex unions deleted last zone of anti-gay intolerance in western Europe. Lack of adoption rights left "bitter taste".
Most hospital staff in Bulgaria and Romania think gay people are mentally ill. A transgender woman was refused surgery by every hospital in Slovakia, a new study shows.
The EU commission is going to sponsor a boat in Amsterdam Gay Pride for the first time ever. But Hungary has said that type of thing undermines its sovereignty.
The Senate approved a bill recognising same-sex unions, but political manoeuvres led prime minister Matteo Renzi to scrap the green light for gay adoption.
If Dutch voters stop the EU-Ukraine treaty in a referendum in April, they will help to stall the reform process. What will happen to Ukraine’s LGBT community?
New law will allow gay citizens to enter into a civil union, which had been available to different-sex couples for several years.
Almost two-thirds of people rejected a law on gay marriage in Slovenia’s referendum on Sunday, highlighting an east-west EU cultural divide.
The EU has a formidable instrument to promote its values overseas: visa-free travel. It worked in Ukraine. But it’s not being used in Turkey.
The adopted legislation was a requirement from Brussels if Ukraine wants visa-free travel.
Ukrainian MPs have voted down a gay rights law in a decision likely to kill chances of EU visa-free travel by the end of the year.
